All branches of engineering employ models to further understanding. These include actual physical scale models, mathematical models, and computer models. The models we will use are water models for electronic concepts and components. Since most of you are familiar with indoor plumbing and have used a garden hose, these water models should help you understand the electronics that we discuss. The models are not perfect, but students before you have found them very helpful.
The course for which this book was developed includes much more than just the beginning elements of electronics. The aim of the course is to give entering students in electrical engineering and computer sciences a warmer welcome and some view of what engineers do professionally. So you'll find here a bit about student survival techniques, and a lot about engineering concepts and skills. There are some short technical articles, and even shorter one-page templates for the different kinds of technical writing that you may be called upon to do. Finally, a companion volume, "Laboratory Experiments for Electrical Engineering Uncovered", contains laboratory experiments with equipment that you've already used but perhaps not understood - such as a VCR, CD player, remote control for TV, and an ultrasonic rangefinder (see "Contents").
We hope that you'll enjoy this material while learning from it. And if you find omissions or mistakes, or think of topics to add, please get in touch.